How I Became Me; How you Become YouThe author posts these weekly spiritual messages (often related to current events) based on his personal experience, the wisdom of AA, the Kabbalah, and A Course in Miracles. Click SUBSCRIBE (at the bottom of this message) to receive these FREE posts.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Spirituality May Not Look Like What You Think It’s Supposed To Look Like

Two rather weird things have
happened to me over the last several weeks. The two are independent, but
triggered by the sudden death of my very dear friend Amy.

First: About a year ago,
to help out a friend who was getting a license in hypnotism and needed some
practical hands-on experiences in hypnotizing folks, I was hypnotized and then
led through a past-life regression. It was a very unique experience. I had never
done anything like that, although I had read some interesting articles on the
subject.

As I was in the past-life
regression part of the exercise, I could see myself (as a Spirit)
floating/flying - not sure how to
describe it. I could see myriads of very bright lights or orbs flitting all
over the place. It was similar to watching an intense gathering of fireflies on
a summer evening. Random movement. Quick-moving. Flashes of light.

All of a sudden, two orbs or
lights – in unison – broke off from the others and were making a bee-line for
me. I felt significant and knew they were coming to me! Suddenly I “recognized”
the orbs as my sister Shirley (who died at the age of 30 about 45 years ago)
and my maternal grandfather who died at the age of 104 about 20 years ago.

How did I know it was they?

I have absolutely no clue – but
I am absolutely convinced it was the two of them. I simply knew.

Several days ago that image of
the flitting orbs came to me again during a meditation, but this time there
were three orbs of light. Without a doubt in my mind the third was Amy.

Goosebumps.

Second: I am in the
process of following the Workbook for Students in A Course In Miracles (ACIM),
which consists of 365 daily lessons.
Lately, the lessons are encouraging a deeper sort of meditation than
suggested in the earlier lessons. These are referred to as “Down-And-Inward”
meditations. The guidelines ask you:

·To sink deeply into the center of your mind,

·Use concrete methods (often, simply repeating
the title of the day’s lesson) to pull myself back when my mind wanders, and

·To maintain a heightened sense of intention,
i.e., really be willing to want to
find peace and calm and light and knowledge and the trusted love of God.

A very good friend and Course
student has used this technique with a remarkable result that changed his life.
So, here I went – as I did in AA – simply following instructions. Doing as I
was told.

The Course said this practice
would enable me to find that peaceful center of my True Self – the Self that
had never severed being a part of God, the Self that knew the Truth of Love, and
the Self that existed in the reality of Spirit, which is without fear.

It is a neat meditative
practice. I’ve used it now for a week or so. However, I wasn’t seeing bright
light. I wasn’t being overwhelmed with peace. I wasn’t being blown away by the
presence of God’s love. But, it was a nice meditative regimen. What I did know
was that the meditative time went by very quickly, whether it was a 6-minute or
30-minute meditation. Badda Bang; Badda Bing. Where had the time gone?

Several days ago another good
friend in the Course simply happened to mention that he had had a deep
meditation and he knew he was at his peaceful center. “How do you know?” “Because
the time goes by instantly.” Wow! That was what was happening to me, too!

But I didn’t see it.

What was I expecting? What was I
anticipating? Why was I allowing my expectations/anticipations to skew my
meditation experience? Then I stopped criticizing myself. It didn’t matter what
my expectations were. What mattered was a little confirmation – a deep
meditation where time elapses instantly. Where there is no time. That is peace.

It was the same déjà vu all over again.

I remembered, early in my
sobriety, listening to a member of the Fellowship who kept asking the group –
week after week – when her desire to drink would be lifted. It got old
listening to her whine and complain. Then, one evening, listening to her
repetitive “When is my desire to drink going to be lifted?” I realized I hadn’t
thought of taking a drink in a long while. When was my desire lifted? I didn’t know. I remembered thinking there should
be lightening bolts and thunder claps and choirs of angels. None of that. My
desire to drink simply faded into the night.

From ACIM: “In the presence of
those who hear the Holy Spirit’s Call to be as one, the ego fades away and is
undone.” [T-5: IV, 1, 11]

Although these messages are
mostly for me, thanks for listening. As always – feel free to forward this
message to your friends, family, and those accompanying you on your spiritual
journey.

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Donald L. O'Dell holds a Master of Divinity from
Princeton Theological Seminary and an
undergraduate degree in history from North Texas.
As an ordained United Presbyterian minister, he
served as a street gang minister in Trenton, NJ. In
addition he had two separate pastorates in
Oklahoma, where he also served as Chaplain in a
county hospital.
He continued to serve smaller congregations after
he joined the private sector in business.
Semi-retired, he resides in Florida where he
continues a proposal consulting business.
He also remains an active participant in a New
Thought congregation.